In an effort to reduce water loss and generate renewable energy, the Delhi Government is planning to repair a 17-km section of Munak canal and cover it with solar panels. A feasibility study is being carried out by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Besides, the Munak Canal also faces persistent issues of garbage dumping and accidental drownings. Open and unguarded stretches of the canal pose a danger to both residents and passersby Solar panels will not only generate electricity but also reduce the rate of water evaporation. Similar detailed project reports are also underway to transform the Najafgarh Drain and Barapullah drain into a  solar power corridor. Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma inspected the Munak canal last week and reviewed conditions on-site along with senior officials. Based on the findings, a comprehensive plan is being developed to install solar panels across the Delhi stretch of the Munak Canal by constructing four-foot-high walls on both sides, over which the panels will be mounted. The Munak canal is a lifeline for Delhis water supply. But in its current form, it is also a major source of water loss, pollution and risk. Our plan to cover it with solar panels will help us save water, produce clean power and make the canal safer and more secure for the people of Delhi, Verma said. The Munak canal has two main branches — the Delhi Sub-Branch (DSB) and the Carrier Lined Channel (CLC) — that are suffering from significant leakage and inefficiency.  In a first-of-its-kind move, the DSB, a raw water stream starting from Haryana and merging with the Munak canal, will be covered with solar panels. A feasibility study is being carried out by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). According to a statement issued by the Government, the inspection revealed alarming levels of water loss in the canal. Two of its main sections—the Delhi Sub-Branch (DSB) and the Carrier Lined Channel (CLC) — are suffering from significant leakage and inefficiency: In the DSB, nearly 30 per cent of the water is lost due to seepage and evaporation while CLC records five percents water loss still substantial in absolute terms. Beyond water loss, the Munak canal also faces persistent issues of garbage dumping and accidental drownings. Open and unguarded stretches of the canal pose a danger to both residents and passersby, it said. The proposed plan includes building four-foot walls on both sides of the canal within Delhi territory and mounting solar panels over the top to completely cover it. This will serve multiple purposes: Reduce evaporation and water loss by cutting direct sun exposure;  Generate renewable energy to power canal-related infrastructure or feed into the grid,  Improve safety by preventing accidental falls and deterring unauthorised access and enhance cleanliness, minimising garbage dumping and contamination. The concept is inspired by a similar successful project in Gujarat, where solar panels have been installed over canal systems to efficiently utilise space, prevent evaporation and generate clean power, the minister said. The Munak Canal system, which includes the CLC and the DSB, is 102 km long, out of which about 85 km lies in Haryana and approximately 17 km is within Delhi. The Delhi Government is currently engaging with the Haryana Government to strengthen coordination regarding the maintenance and management of the canal system, particularly for the Delhi segment.

Stay updated with all the Delhi Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.